Kaine Bridges, a young lady from the powerful Bridges family, renowned even within the Krentz Kingdom.
She declared herself as my fiancée, but the one who couldn’t let that slide was—
「I object!」
Charlotte.
「And you are?」
「I am Charlotte Blaffer, Bale-san’s fiancée desu wa!」
「Ah… you mean his ‘former’ fiancée.」
「What!?」
Kaine deliberately emphasized the ‘former’, leaving Charlotte momentarily speechless.
…It’s true.
Charlotte and I were once engaged, but that’s in the past. Our engagement was annulled, and though circumstances have led us to live together now, the engagement itself no longer exists.
—Wait a second.
If she declared herself my fiancée so boldly in front of me, does that mean the Bridges family officially recognizes this arrangement?
Normally, these kinds of proposals would go to Dirk.
Considering the Orlando family went so far as to cast me out and adopt him, I didn’t think they’d involve me in anything like this. But perhaps they’ve found themselves in such dire straits that they’re left with no other options.
Either way, there’s no way I’m accepting this.
I want nothing to do with the Orlando family anymore.
I’ll have to turn her down, even if it’s harsh.
「I appreciate you coming all this way, but… I’m no longer connected to the Orlando family.」
「That connection can be reestablished if you marry me.」
「Sorry, but that’s the last thing I want.」
「What!? You… you don’t wish to return to the Orlando family!?」
「Eh? No. Not at all.」
Was that really such a shocking answer?
—I mean, sure, someone accustomed to aristocratic life might struggle with the idea of becoming a farmer. The difference in living standards could be overwhelming.
But for me, this life is something I chose. Even if the Divine Granting Appraisal Ceremony had granted me something other than the Dragon Tree Sword, I would have likely left home and pursued life as a farmer regardless.
Yet Kaine didn’t seem willing to accept my answer. She pressed on relentlessly.
「You’re willing to give up your noble status to become a farmer?」
「It’s not about giving anything up. This is the life I want.」
「You… you chose to become a farmer!?」
…It seems she believes I’ve resorted to farming out of desperation, as if it were my only means of survival. She must have thought that dangling the prospect of returning to noble life would be enough to secure an engagement.
So… does that mean this whole fiancée business is something she came up with on her own?
「About this engagement you mentioned earlier… was it actually agreed upon by both families?」
「…!?」
Kaine fell silent at my question.
Her reaction spoke volumes without her needing to say anything.
「Judging by your response… you haven’t even mentioned this engagement to your parents, have you?」
「W-what does that matter!?」
This time, Kiara’s anger flared, and she moved to confront Kaine, but I raised a hand to stop her.
It seems… there’s more to this situation than meets the eye.
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